An electric candy machine in the basement of the B. Peck Co. store gathered a crowd of the clerks and a few shoppers who braved the storm. The operator put common sugar in the cylinder of the machine and quickly gathered up what appeared to be cotton, ready for spinning, but was really candy.

The prospect of an ice famine in the State is lightened by reports from some of the smaller ice fields that the town of Sumner reports the ice coming in fast and of good quality. Several new ice houses have been built there the past year and a larger quantity than usual will be stored.

50 Years Ago, 1956

Lewiston may have to set up a program to prevent the Dutch Elm disease from destroying many of its shade trees. A letter from the State Forestry Department informed the Public Works Board that the disease is spreading in the State and advised setting up a program to destroy diseased trees. The disease is carried either in the dead bark or wood of the Elm trees, said George J. Maher, Lewiston Public Works department director. The dead wood has to be cut out of the trees, diseased trees cut down and the wood destroyed to prevent spread of the disease.

25 Years Ago, 1981

Addressing an overflow crowd at the dedication of Auburn’s new middle school, Mayor R. Peter Whitmore said the time has come to revamp the concept of the one-room New England schoolhouse. Officials feel Auburn is keeping up with the times, though, with its new school. Construction on the facility began in May 1979 and it still lacks a few of the final touches – such as student lockers and the completion of the industrial arts area – but it has been used for classes since Jan. 6. The dedication ceremony marked the official opening of the building, with state, local and school board officials participating in the occasion.